AS SAINTS know from last season's near miss, SPL promotion is never won in mid-winter.
ST JOHNSTONE 2
Jackson 5; Moon 74
STIRLING 1
Aitken 50 Three points closer to the leaders than a year ago, yesterday's encounter with Stirling Albion was a must-win match for both sides. It was the home side who made up gr
ound on promotion rivals Dundee with a narrow and barely deserved victory.
Having saluted captain for the day Alan Main for his 300th appearance for the Perth club, Saints fans were celebrating within five minutes as the brittle Albion defence buckled at the first hint of pressure.
Liam Craig carved his way through the inside-left channel and played a reverse ball to leading scorer Andy Jackson, who slotted home from eight yards off keeper Hogarth's far post.
The league's bottom side achieved parity five minutes into the second half. The home defence opened up as Chris Aitken slotted home John-Paul McBride's free kick low past the previously untroubled Main. On the hour mark, defender Kevin Rutkiewicz almost restored Saints lead, hooking a Paul Sheerin free kick inches wide.
With 15 minutes remaining, Saints got the winner they scarcely deserved as their two second-half substitutes combined, Weatherston releasing Moon who scored low down from 16 yards out.
But it was to be the Saints celebrating keeper Alan Main who ensured all three points remained at McDiarmid Park with a superb low one-handed injury-time save from Albion sub Graham Churchill.
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